The Casa Roja lodge consists of two bedrooms, each with its own complete modern bath with hot-water rain showers, as well as a loft with three twin beds, and an additional large half bath. The home offers a spectacular 270-degree view of the Sierpe River and Pacific Ocean. The bedrooms are completely sealed with large screened windows to enjoy the breathtaking scenery while remaining relatively mosquito and bug free. The kitchen, bar, and living area are arranged in an open-air design with floor-to-ceiling screens that can be opened or closed depending on the weather, bug status, and personal preference. When unscreened, the living area essentially functions as a large patio, perfect for socializing, yoga on the deck, or simply relaxing and enjoying the view.

Our professional kitchen is designed to support large groups and features modern appliances, including a stove, oven, indoor flat-top grill, outdoor gas barbeque, multiple refrigerators, wine cooler, ice maker, and of course, a blender for drinks. The bar can easily seat 10 and is a popular spot throughout the day for playing games, drinking, and dining.

Our staff can provide food services, or we can supply food for guests to cook themselves. Food at Casa Roja is simple, fresh, and generally locally sourced from the property or local farmers in the Sierpe River Basin. We offer Costa Rican cocktails using regional top-shelf liquors, and our wine cooler is stocked with a variety of wines, with the intention of introducing guests to regional offerings that they would otherwise not have access too. Learn more…

Our prices reflect our remote location and the resources needed to provide guests with unparalleled access to nature in a truly unique environment. Your experience includes a private eco-tour guide, Argenis, and boat to take you wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go. This includes looking for whales and dolphins offshore, river and ocean fishing, snorkeling, boat trips to Drake Bay, and nature tours such as a waterfall hike, Isla Violin crocodile tour, mangrove tour, and snorkeling, plus many other activities that you don’t have to book or pay for! The house also comes equipped with kayaks, surf and boogie boards, a paddle board, fishing tackle, field guides, spotting scopes, binoculars – basically all the gear you need during your vacation. Tipping Argenis is appropriate for guests that use his guide services extensively, assuming 100% satisfaction with your vacation and his services. All of your food, drinks, and meals are provided during your stay, and tipping Graciela is appreciated for families that desire full meal services.

Our minimum recommended stay is 5 nights simply because there is so much to do in the area. Considerable effort is also required to prepare the house and property for each family, such that it’s not practical to offer shorter stays. Low season rates begin at $800/night for two people. Peak season (Thanksgiving through Easter) rates are $1,000/night for 2 people. Each additional guest is $100 per night. A Costa Rican lodging tax of 13% will be added to the price of your stay. Tipping is discretionary based on exceeding your expectations.

Our Casa Roja guide, Argenis, is on-site 24/7 to take you on variety of tours and assist you with other activities during your stay. You will have the Casa Roja boat with Argenis as captain and guide to use around the boca at no additional charge. The list of possible activities is extensive and discussed in detail on our Activities page. We also provide eco and recreational equipment for you to enjoy during your time around the boca, including sunscreen, bug repellent, toiletries and other essentials to help you pack light. Boat transportation from and to Sierpe on your arrival and departure is also included. Activities such as visiting Corcovado National Park or Caño Island, scuba diving, or deep-sea fishing are not included, but we can help book tours for you as discussed below.

All local nature tours and fishing are included during your stay at Casa Roja. The only activities that are an additional cost are full-day private tours to Corcovado National Park and Caño Island (with snorkeling and/or scuba diving), as well as deep-sea fishing. We book these excursions with independent tour companies due to the greater distance of ocean travel required. Prices vary and may be a little higher or lower depending on the time of year, number of people, and other factors beyond our control. Please be flexible and understand that we do not add fees to the tours, and we try to get the best rates we can for our guests. You pay for these additional tours in cash to the tour provider at the end of the tour (or we can arrange to pay ahead for you, if desired). If you cancel last-minute, you may still have to pay for park passes purchased in advance.

During the high season (November through May), we need to know 30 days in advance if you would like to book Corcovado and Caño Island tours. If you delay, we cannot guarantee a tour, as the number of visitors is restricted at each location. During the low season (June through October), obtaining park entry permits is not normally a problem, but the availability of a boat and guide may be. If these trips are a priority, please let us know 30 days in advance of your desired date.

We arrange everything for you prior to your trip, and on the day of your tour we prepare and pack your breakfast and lunch. You depart at 6 a.m. from the beach in front of the house for a one-hour boat ride to Corcovado Park. Cost includes transportation, meals, and entrance fees for up to 8 guests. If your expectations are exceeded, a $100 tip for the guide is appropriate and will be shared with the boat captain and first mate. We provide binoculars, field guides, rubber boots, walking sticks, rain protection, and waterproof backpacks for you.

We arrange everything for you prior to your trip, and on the day of your tour we prepare and pack your breakfast and lunch. You depart at 7 a.m. from the beach in front of the house for a 45-minute boat ride to the island. Cost includes transportation, meals, entrance fees, and snorkel equipment for up to 8 guests. If your expectations are exceeded, a $100 tip for the guide is appropriate and will be shared with the boat captain and first mate. Whales, dolphins, and other sea life are often seen on your trip to and from the island.

Caño Island offers the best scuba diving opportunity in Costa Rica. We arrange diving tours for you, and cost includes boat, captain, dive guide, park entrance fees, lunch, and equipment as needed. Cost depends on the number of people, equipment, and number of dives.

The best month for whale watching is September, but whales are present much of the year and can sometimes be encountered on your trips to and from Corcovado and Caño Island, or while fishing or touring the near-shore ocean with Argenis. As such, we don’t recommend guests pay for whale watching tours. However, if seeing whales is a bucket-list item, consider booking during peak months (discussed further in our Planning and Arrival Guide). We can arrange an all-day tour with a tour company that can go further offshore, improving your chances of seeing whales during slower months. Cost is $700-$800. If your expectations are exceeded, a $100 tip for the guide is appropriate and will be shared with the boat captain and first mate.

Fishing in the river, mangrove forests, and the nearshore ocean are included in your stay at Casa Roja, and common species encountered are snapper, dorado, mackerel, grouper, roosterfish, corvina and jack caravelle. Deep-sea sportfishing can be arranged with local guides that are equipped with larger boats, specific knowledge, and fishing gear. Half-day trips are $400–$500 and can accommodate four or five people depending on the charter boat. Full-day trips run $800–$1,600 depending on the charter boat. If your expectations are exceeded, a tip ranging from $100–$700 may be appropriate depending on how successful your trip is, and will be shared with the boat captain and first mate.

These charters will take you much further out to sea where you can fish for marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. Let us know if you are interested in chartering a fishing trip, and we will send you more information on guides and will assist with booking a trip.

We arrange for you to be picked up in a new, comfortable, air-conditioned private van and driven to Sierpe. We can pick you up at the airport or a hotel, and you can stop along the way to eat, shop, or sightsee. On arrival or departure, you can overnight in a beach town or in the mountains. Price for a standard trip from the airport to Sierpe is $300. The cost is higher from downtown San Jose or if you would like to overnight along the way. You can choose between the beach and mountain routes, each taking 4-5 hours depending on traffic.

To learn more about Casa Roja activities and logistics, check out our Planning and Arrival Guide as well as our Boca Orientation Guide.